Connection for doorchecks



Dec. 4, 1956 R. c. FLINT 2,772,439

CONNECTION FOR DOORCHECKS Filed March 11, 1955 Unitfld States Patent CONNECTION FOR DOORCHECKS Russell C. Flint, Princeton, Ill., assignor to LCN Closers, lnc., Princeton, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,629

Claims. (Cl. 16-49) This invention relates to a connection between the doorcheck and a door, and more particularly to a connecting arm and trackway in combination with a door closing and checking mechanism.

In the construction of buildings where doors are equipped with closing and checking mechanisms, it is customary to install the closing and checking mechanism in the doorsill prior to installation of the door. Difiiculties are encountered if the mechanism is tilted when it is mounted in the frame, so that efiicient operation and actuation are impossible. Also, tilting can occur by inaccurate securing of the other parts to the door.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a door closer and checking mechanism employing an arm connected between the closer and the door, which allows inaccurate installation, without the usual attendant difiiculties.

It is another object of this invention to provide a connection between the lever arm and a trackway mounted in the door which reduces the amount of friction in the movement of the arm relative to the door.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a device which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and efficient and positive in operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawing which illus trates one embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door closing mechanism, connecting arm and trackway, embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the trackway and connecting arm.

Figure 3 is a View in section, taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section, taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the trackway showing the roller tilted with respect thereto.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted that the present invention is adapted to be associated with a conventional type door closing and checking mechanism lltl, having a depending central shaft 11. The closing mechanism is of the type employing spring means for imparting closing movements to the door, and also employing a dash-pot for checking, at the desired point, the closing movements. For operation of the mechanism, the opening and closing movements of the door must be transmitted to shaft 11 in the form of rotary movement.

The connecting arm 12 is adapted to be fixedly secured at its pivot end to the depending portion of shaft 11. The securing means may comprise a plurality of screws whereby the arm may be fixedly secured to the shaft and also may be detached therefrom when desired. The other end of the arm is connected to the door.

For this purpose a spindle 14 is mounted on arm 12 of the door. The spindle 14 is inserted in an aperture 13 at one end of the arm 12. Boss 15 is formed on the spindle 14 to bear against the under side of arm 12. A cotter pin 16, inserted through a slot in the top end of the spindle 14 with the ends bent backwardly, prevents removal of the spindle from the arm.

The lower end of the spindle 14 has a reduced section 18 supporting a ball bearing 20. The ball bearing is contained between boss 15 and sleeve 19 on reduced section 18. Mounted on the ball bearing 20 is a roller 21 which may be formed of synthetic fiber-forming polymeric amides having protein-like chemical structure and known as nylon having the configuration of an annulus. The roller is designed to rotate on spindle 14 about a generally vertical axis as the arm 12 is moved by the door closing mechanism. The outer periphery of the roller has an arcuate configuration to permit inclination of the axis of rotation of the roller with respect to the trackway.

A trackway 30 is mounted in a recess in the top end of door 31 and is removably secured therein by screws 32. The trackway 30 has two spaced, parallel sides 34, 35. Side 34, which is nearest the door closing and checking mechanism, has an arcuate concave track 36 bounded by a pair of shoulders 37 which are inclined away from the roller 21 to prevent sliding friction. The shoulders 37 take the vertical thrust of the roller. Also, the shoulders allow the roller to be tilted, as shown in Figure 5, without undue friction between the roller and the shoulders.

The side 35 of the trackway has a dished portion 39, having a larger radius of curvature on the concave faces than the outer periphery of roller 21. In the form shown in the drawings, the cross sectional configuration of the dished portion 39 is twice the diameter of the outer arcuate periphery of roller 21. The larger radius of curvature of dished portion 39, allows tilting of the roller with respect to the trackway, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Also, in order to permit tilting of the roller with respect to the trackway, the arcuate track 36 is spaced from dished portion 39 at a distance greater than the largest diameter of roller 21. This clearance between the roller 21 and dished portion 39 permits the inclination and tilting of the roller in the trackway.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should be apparent. As the door is opened, the trackway 30 moves with it and the arm 12 which is secured at one end to the doorframe, causes the roller 21 to travel in the trackway. Due to the fact that shoulders 37 are mounted above and below the sides of the roller 21, the vertical thrusts are taken by the shoulders 37. On the other hand, the horizontal thrusts on the roller 21 are taken by arcuate track 36 and dished portion 39. As to the latter, when the door is closed, roller 21 will engage track 36, but if the closing movements are slowed or stopped, the continued closing motion of the door by inertia will cause the dished portion 39 of the trackway to contact the roller. In the event that during the installation the arm 12 is not exactly horizontal, the roller may be tilted, as shown in Figure 5. Tilting between the trackway and roller may also occur by inaccurate mounting of the trackway in the door. The particular construction of the device permits tilting without undue friction between the trackway and the roller. It should be noted that the roller 21 can be tilted without any binding between the roller and the trackway.

In the drawing and specification, there have been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and in proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, and a roller on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having dished sides spaced at a distance greater than the diameter of said roller to permit tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

2. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, and a roller on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having sides spaced at a distance greater than the diameter of said roller, one side of said trackway having an arcuate portion of a larger radius .of curvature than the outer periphery of said roller for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

3. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, and a roller on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having an arcuate side for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

4. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, and a roller mounted on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having dished sides spaced at a distance greater than the diameter of said roller, one of said sides having an arcuate configuration of a larger radius of curvature than the outer periphery of said roller for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

5. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, a roller on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having sides spaced at a distance greater than the diameter of said roller for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway, and a pair of shoulders on one side of said trackway containing therebetween a portion of the periphery of said roller.

6. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door,

a roller having an axis of rotation mounted on said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having sides spaced at a distance greater than the diameter of said roller, and inclined shoulders on one side of said trackway containing a portion of the periphery of the roller therebetween for permitting said axis of rotation to be tilted.

7. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having :a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, a member having an arcuate periphery mounted on said arm for movement in said trackway, a pair of shoulders on one side of said trackway containing therebetween said member, said shoulders being inclined away from said member to prevent sliding friction, the other side of saidtrackway having a dished portion for permitting tilting of said member with respect to said trackway.

8. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, a roller having a generally vertical axis of rotation mounted on said arm for movement in said trackway, a pair of shoulders on one side of said trackway containing therebetween said roller, said shoulders being inclined away from said roller to prevent sliding friction, the other side of said trackway having an arcuate portion of a larger radius of curvature than the outer periphery of said roller for permitting tilting of said axis of rotation with respect to said trackway.

9. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway adapted to be mounted in a recess in a door, a member having an outer arcuate periphery mounted at one end of said arm for movement in said trackway, said trackway having dished sides spaced a distance greater than the arcuate periphery of said member for permitting tilting of said member with respect to the trackway, a pair of shoulders on one side of said trackway containing said member therebetween, said shoulders being inclined away from said member, the other side of said trackway having a dished portion of a larger radius of curvature than the outer arcuate periphery of said member for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

10. In combination with a door closing and checking mechanism having a shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a trackway having two spaced sides, a roller on said arm for movement in said trackway, a pair of shoulders on the interior of one side of said trackway for containing therebetween a portion of the periphery of said roller, said shoulders being inclined away from said roller, and a dished portion on the other side of said trackway for permitting tilting of said roller with respect to said trackway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,314 Garrison Aug. 8, 1933 

